Anticholinergic Burden and Cognitive Function in Psychosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

What is it about?

Do medications with anticholinergic properties impair cognitive functioning in patients with psychosis? In this meta-analysis including 5188 individuals with psychosis, increased anticholinergic burden was significantly associated with impaired cognitive functioning. Additionally, in a subset of 186 individuals with psychosis, tapering of anticholinergic medications was significantly associated with improvements in cognitive functioning.These findings suggest that exposure to anticholinergic medications contributes to cognitive impairments in psychosis. From a clinical perspective, reducing the use of medications with anticholinergic properties may improve cognitive functioning in people with psychosis.

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